Of course, the danger is that this threat may cause Specter to back card-check in order to keep Big Labor happy. Thus far, however, he hasn’t. And I have to think that between Specter’s low numbers among Democrats who aren’t yet enamored of him despite his switch, his general electoral vulnerability, and his refusal thus far to support card-check, that this threat from Big Labor has him worried.

I don’t mind stating that a Specter loss would be karmic payback not just for his exceedingly crass opportunism in switching parties, but also for the shocking and appalling way he sought to make use of Jack Kemp’s death in order to advance a political point. What John F. Kennedy said about Richard Nixon goes for Arlen Specter as well: “No class.”